Friday, September 4, 2009

I channeled my mother yesterday. I 'canned' peaches from our own peach tree. Rick and I (well, mostly Rick) have babied this little tree for three years. It was a thoughtful gift from one of Rick's good friends that was given to us when Rick's dad passed away.

Notice the shiney strips attached to the tree to keep the birds away. When you drove up our street the tree looked like it was decked out for the holidays! The instructions said to only put them on the tree within 14 days of harvest otherwise the birds will get used to them. Luckily, no birds. They must work.

We didn't think we had that many peaches until we started to pick them. This is only about 2/3rds of the crop. This was also before I put on my apron. :)

In process...

Nothing can prepare you for the work involved, and once you've begun, there's no turning back!

I have never canned anything before. I remember my mother's endless summer canning days from sun up to midnight. Usually canning close to 100 bottles of the precious fruits in season in one day! This was a new adventure and I had done a lot of studying. I regretted not paying more attention to her work. At the time canning was the farthest thing from anything I would ever do. Besides, you can just go the store and buy them in a can. Who would want to go through all that work? ...but, when you finally have your own beautiful little tree...

Two dozen!

I probably could have put up two more dozen if I'd had more bottles. Aren't they beautiful! Rick thinks I rank up there with Martha Stewart. The funny thing is is that I feel like Martha Stewart. I look at the beautiful bottles and pat myself on the back. I did it! I actually 'canned'.

So now with the leftovers, not counting the ones still on the tree, we're going to enjoy peaches and cream, peach crisp, homemade peach ice cream, peach pie, peaches alamode...and who knows what else I can make from peaches!

So here's to you Mom, thanks for your inspiration and the peaches ain't bad either!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I know! I know! It's been too long since my last post. Posting blogs is not one of my priorities. Most of my blog worthy activites are shared with my two ultra blogging daughters and their families who post often (with videos no less!) and that tends to lessen the motivation a bit, but in keeping with the spirit of the 'blog' I will attempt to update you on my summer so far...(I might even try to change the font or the print color...wish me luck!)

June 1-5, Martin's Cove and Mount Rushmore

Rick & I, my sister Susie and her husband Mike and our brother-in-law Brownie visited Martin's Cove, WY. With an interesting overnight in Muddy Gap, in an old single wide trailer... Me: "Where are the two other bedrooms? You said three bedrooms." Middle Eastern clerk: "No, three beds!"

On to Mt. Rushmore...we actually found a very nice motel in Custer, SD with three 'separate' rooms! Loved the Black Hills! Beautiful scenery, wildlife, food and activities.

We also enjoyed Jewel Cave, Custer National Park and Ellsworth Air Force Base, home of the South Dakota Air & Space Museum and the B-2 bomber!

We loved exploring quaint Hill City and Keystone, expecially loved riding the old train.

I wish that I could end this blog on a happy note, but, since just this little blog has taken me 1 1/2 hours to prepare, I'll need to update our later activities later, maybe NEVER! I keep trying to put the pictures in order, then for some reason they'd disappear, then I'd download them again, only to have the pictures all over the place! Please enjoy what you see, it was hard! I'm sorry that the pictures seem to be all over the place. I get it looking great in my draft but the preview has everything all over the place. Can you tell I'm just a 'wee bit' frustrated?

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

I actually had a 'lucky day'! They don't come along very often so when they happen you have to be ready. Ready for the surprise. Ready for the snippet of joy. When it happens you have to seize it, grab hold of it and relish the moment, try to prolong it, take advantage of it.

Lest you think that I won the lottery I didn't...but I did find money!

As I sat at my computer I looked down and behold...bills were sticking out of the 'money pocket' in my jeans! These were jeans that I hadn't worn in a while, apparently a l-o-n-g while.

Found Money! $15 bucks! Jackpot! I felt like I had won the lottery. Not a big one, but one none the less.

So...what do you do with 'newly found' money? I decided to call my husband and take him out to lunch. Luckily he had the time...

We decided to go to one of our favorite places, The Sampan at 7th East & 21st South. Yum!!! We LOVE the snowball shrimp! Large shrimp in a sweet white sauce with sugared walnuts on top of a bed of broccoli.

And when our lunch was through we opened our fortune cookies....Rick's fortune was: "The stock market may be your ticket to success." Well so far that definately has NOT been the case, but on a lucky day you can always hope.

My fortune cookie topped off the experience: "This week, you have a good head in matters of money." I can tell you I did have a 'good head' in money matters today! I wouldn't mind if more 'lucky' days would come along. It was an awsome day!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Last Saturday I treated my 3 little grand-daughters to a collective Princess Birthday Party. Since Kaitlyn turned 7 yrs on March 4th and Anna turned 4 yrs on March 15th and Lauren turned 7 yrs on March 19th we had a 'girls only' birthday party.

We started at my house where we had lemonade, cookies and candy and opened presents. Then we went to a kids salon called Snip-its. The girls were pampered from the moment they arrived. They were able to dress in the princess clothing of their choice...then their hair was done...

Then pretty makeup applied....nails done...crafts completed and to top it all off...

a beautiful birthday cake with 7+4+7=18 candles. What beautiful little girls we have....ahhh.....to be young again!

Then we went to Appleby's for dinner. Servers singing and all...favorite food and special dessert! What a fun day...until next year...

Friday, February 13, 2009

My sister Deanna left this earthly existance yesterday. Her fragile body gave in to the ravages of cancer. Now she is pain free and renewing relationships with loved ones that have gone on before. Words cannot express how much she will be missed. We loved to camp together every summer as a family (sisters and husbands) in Pine Valley, UT. The above picture represents one of Deanna's favorite places to be, her so called 'heaven on earth'. We have teased each other that she has gone on ahead to find the best camping sites. We are going to hold her to that promise.

Monday, February 9, 2009

What can I say? The start of this year has been tough. My dear sister Deanna is dying of cancer. In fact at this moment I am waiting for a call from Brownie letting me know that she has moved on. One of her favorite quotes is: "Out of the dreariness, into the cheeriness, come we joyfully, home."

January 6th I traveled to Newport Beach, CA to spend some time with her. My sister Sue joined me on the 9th and the three of us had three great days together. The day I left was the hardest. I had to say good-bye. Literally. We hugged and cried and hugged some more. Words cannot express how much she will be missed. So, I will take some advise from myself and say 'see ya later' my dear sister Dee. I love you.